Tractor and Trailer Routing in a Less Than Truckload Network

摘要

In Less Than Truckload (LTL) trucking, freight loaded onto trucks, once picked up from or dropped off bycustomers, are consolidated into 28' pup trailers at end of line terminals, and then shipped/routed through the LTLcompany's transportation network break-bulk terminals. Break-bulk terminal, while also potentially performing endof line terminal functions (I.e., delivery/pickup of customer freight in the local area), handles through freight whichoften must be consolidated with other shipments heading in the same network direction. In this paper, LTL tractorand trailer pair movement between break-bulk terminals is considered. We present a mixed-integer program (MIP)to minimize total transportation costs (including empty miles) while determining both tractor and trailer routes in anLTL transportation network and then discuss results from a broad, designed experiment.